The assumption many have made about Los Alamitos Race Course's $100,000 Winter Challenge Dec. 17, a race written specifically to serve as a prep for California Chrome, is that will be a "paid workout" for the 2014 Horse of the Year.

The slow-early, quick-late drills have been standard for the 5-year-old son of Lucky Pulpit, so when he powered through the stretch to stop the clock in :47.46 for a half-mile Saturday, with a final furlong in :11.10, it was par for the course.

The Turf Publicists of America (TPA) announced Nov. 22 that Art Sherman, trainer of champion and all-time North American earnings leader California Chrome, will be honored with the 2016 Big Sport of Turfdom Award.

California Chrome went about his business Saturday in his standard fashion, how trainer Art Sherman and assistant Alan Sherman have trained him consistently during his 2016 campaign--relaxed early and quick late.

The 2014 Horse of the Year has raced at eight different racetracks in five different states and overseas in Dubai, but has never competed at his Cypress, Calif., home. That may change Dec. 17, if all goes as planned.

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, will stand his first season at Taylor Made Farm in 2017 for an advertised fee of $40,000, Taylor Made president Duncan Taylor confirmed Nov. 8 during the opening session of the Keeneland November sale.

With Arrogate’s scintillating victory over Horse of the Year California Chrome in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic fresh in the minds of buyers, the dams of both horses are among the top horses to watch during Fasig-Tipton’s November sale.

California Chrome has a chance at redemption—the rarest of opportunities in today’s racing—when he starts in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park, the same race and site where he finished a close third to Bayern in 2014.

The stars will be out in force Saturday, as California Chrome, Arrogate, Tepin, Lady Eli, Flintshire, Frosted and a host of Aidan O'Brien horses, headed by iron filly Found, will be on display in what promises to be a memorable day of racing.

Claire Novak recaps the news of the day, including Lord Nelson's scratch from the Sprint, and the withdrawal of Suedois from the Turf Sprint, which allows Green Mask to run. Plus, more Europeans hit the track, including 2015 Turf winner Found.

Claire Novak recaps the news of the day, including works from American Gal, Holy Lute, and Mongolian Saturday, and the first Europeans on track, including Turf contender Ulysses. Also, I'm a Chatterbox, and the daily California Chrome report.

After giving his connections and fans standout victories in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) and the TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I), California Chrome will try to extend his perfect 5-year-old campaign in the richest race ever run in North America.